Our trip to Washington D.C.

Brad ran his first marathon 2 weeks ago in our nation's capital. We flew north on Friday, with our friends Chris and Alison, and came home on Monday. My parents kept the kids, so we had a nice, needed vacation. As you scroll down, you will see that we visited some of our favorite attractions. We also visited the Lincoln memorial but I didn't include Mr. Lincoln's picture.

Yes, this is Mr. John McCain. We saw him at the DC airport on our way out. Even though we aren't HUGE McCain fans presidential wise, he is a good guy. Couldn't pass up the opportunity. I actually shied out (can you believe it?) and was watching our stuff?

This (above) is the WWII memorial.


I was SO very proud of Brad. This was his first running experience except for sprints in basketball. Brad and Chris have been training since January. It was an awesome experience for him. He hasn't been running since, but I did hear him say that he and Chris were eyeing the Music City Marathon in the spring. Woo hoo! It is fun traveling along! :)

There was something funny that shows that I am in mommy land 24/7- I was awakened in the middle of the night by a thud above us at the hotel. In that second, I had thrown off the covers, and had a foot out of bed before I really awoke and realized that what I heard WAS NOT Lincoln or Catherine falling out of bed. I was in a hotel, the kids were in Tullahoma. So, I crawled back in the covers and went back to sleep. Brad and I got a laugh out of it the next morning.

September is full of fun. Lincoln's birthday is on the 4th and Brad's is on the 5th. It usually means Labor Day weekend is full of family, fun, and birthday cake. A perfect way to spend a long weekend!

Soccer Season began. I made them pose in the driveway before they left for the first game. Lincoln is in a new league, and loves it. A few more rules to learn but that's how it goes! I think Lincoln is catching on to some of it faster than Brad. :)

Lincoln had a special party for his 5th birthday at a local bounce zone. He barely slowed down for this picture.
We are singing Happy Birthday to Lincoln. I love the face he makes when everyone sings. He is thrilled but somewhat embarrassed. It is cute.
Whenever anyone asked Lincoln what he wanted for his birthday, he would say "A train that DOES NOT go all by itself." So that is what Brad and I got. He and Catherine have played and played with it. Actually, Catherine usually knocks parts of it down. Sometimes on accident and sometimes on purpose. Fun times!

This past weekend we went on a 2 night mini-vacation to Chattanooga. Coleman stayed home with Brad's parents (which was the earliest I have ever left a child). He was fine with a bottle, but glad I was back. Or should I say, I was glad I was back. :)
These pictures are from the Discovery Museum in Chattanooga. The water and dinosaur areas were the favorites.

These pictures are from the little zoo in Chattanooga. Lincoln is clutching Brad's leg in the petting portion of the zoo. There was a dog. :)

This is naptime at the hotel. Lincoln was "keeping his head on the pillow." Catherine.... well, wasn't quite ready to be still. It was so funny... for a few minutes anyway. I turned Catherine parallel to the headboard. Then I turned Lincoln sideways, so he had the bottom 2/3 of the bed. I put a big pillow between them and tah dah, sleep came.

The kids loved the hotel, the "escavator" and the elevator. It brought back memories of times growing up when my family stayed in hotels. I remember Amy and I giggling as we "slept" on the floor in sleeping bags- Jeff and Greg always got the other bed next to my parents. I distinctively remember mom or dad saying "Girls, be still. ... Girls, be quiet." Maybe I remember that so well because I heard those two comments a bunch growing up. :)

Please pray for my cousin Travis Speck. He and his wife Kelly had their firstborn, Bennett Mitchell, 10 days ago. He was born with an infection that was/is trying to take his life. The infection has settled in his lungs. They live in DC. Please see the following sight for pictures and updates. Or just pray for his lungs to be rid of the infectio and for there to be no other lasting effects. Pray also for T and K. I can't imagine what they are going through seeing their precious baby this way. Thank you!

http://www.totsites.com/tot/bennettmitchell

Life's Happenings

You know, you would think that staying in out of the heat would keep all the "excitement" to a minimum. But I have found that not to be so.

Referring to our terrible heat, it is nice that the hose water finally feels good! Now, on to what I actually came to write about! :)

Coleman is the child with the most going on so I will brag on him a little. 2 Fridays ago, just days after turning 6 months, I went to get Coleman up from his nap and he was sitting up. He just grinned at me. It was so cute! Since then, I have only seen him that way a few times but he really scoots around in his bed. He also is rocking back and forth on all fours and is reaching out and stretching towards toys or whatever items his bro/sis leave nearby. I keep telling him not to crawl yet b/c my camera hasn't been ready. He almost got moving today but Catherine decided to gently steamroll him. That did stop him for the moment. It is hard to believe the child is almost mobile. Tomorrow he will be talking in sentences.

Today was interesting. Catherine and Coleman both woke up with colds. Thankfully, neither are fussy or lacking in appetite. Anway, I was feeding Cm in the Bumbo seat --

Commercial: A friend let me borrow this Bumbo seat (Thank you C!!) and it is the best thing. We've taken it to restaurants so he has a place to sit when he's tired of the car seat or in lieu of it. They need to hire me on the tv selling network- I could sell almost anyone one of these (as well as the Swivel Sweeper- unrealted to the Bumbo). You can purchase the tray too and then you are really in business!! If you need to buy a gift this is a great one (you may want to go in w/ someone). I think you can get them at Target.

Back to feeding Cm cereal. He sneezes and (sorry ahead of time) and ... he cleans his nose out. As I am wiping that off Linc yells from upstairs, "Mommy, I smell poop. I think Catherine has a poo poo. Come up here quick." And, leaving Cm in the Bumbo, I do go quickly because Catherine has "big girl" panties on and the thought of the possibilities was enough to make me run with the paper towels. I get her cleaned up and within minutes Linc steps on a little nail and begins to bleed (and scream). Snot, Poop, Blood- all in 15 minutes. I call that interesting AND, if I weren't really working on my eating self-control, worthy of a box of cookies!! By the way, what goes "Burp, Spit, Poot"? No, it is not a Sandra Boynton book (children's book author). It is COLEMAN!!

Side note: Lincoln's foot is okay. I did check w/ the doctor's office and they said to keep ointment on it and watch it. The nail wasn't stuck, stuck in his foot, thankfully. And that nail being on our carpet is another story in itself.

News on the older two- Lincoln and Cat started Mother's Day Out. I think I can speak for Coleman too and say that it is nice just having time for the two of us and my Pampered Chef business. Brad said recently that it is time to get back to work. And, thankfully, I agree. In order for a savings account to work properly, it needs something to save! :)

Lincoln and Catherine love talking and bouncing around Coleman. This morning Cat was lying next to Cm on the bed. He would roll over and grab her hair or ear and she would just laugh and laugh. They are only 6 pounds apart. If she could tote him around she would, and she has tried. Lucky for us, she can't get him far off the ground.

Lincoln is Cm (and Cat's) biggest cheerleader. Whenever either does something remotely new or improved you can hear him say "Good job Coleman (or Catherine)" followed by "Mommy, Coleman just did...." with an explanation.

Of course I post all the fun, lovey moments but be confident that there are plenty of tears, trials, time outs, and some spankings in between!